Yes Another Military Tasking!
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Join Date: Feb 2005
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Yes Another Military Tasking!
Just watching the news and apparently the Govt is sending in the Armed Forces to assist with the current flooding problems - understandable but it doesn't help with the overstretch. I thought CGS had just said there werent any reserves left! And how many of those Sea Kings will be running out of flying hours before long? Iraq, Afghanistan, Balkans, Northern Ireland, Falkand Islands, Homeland Defence of the UK (including recent QRA Ops) UN in Cyprus and many others, now add the floods. What next another Op FRESCO?
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This is what we should be doing- helping those who we are meant to be protecting. It might endeer us a bit more to the civilian population if we are seen to be helping them, not just beating up random Dirka Dirkas 1000s of miles away.
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I see nothing wrong with this MACP op at all. Those troops involved will not be on PODL; they're at the behest of the Government for peacetime operations. What's the alternative? Continue to let the floods rise?
Blame the government all you like for not putting enough money into flood defences, cutting the size of the Forces, failing to invest in local emergency services, responding too slowly to a prewarned risk, building thousands of houses on flood plains, concentrating resources away from big cities where they're needed, plotting (as we all know) to get rid of the RAF and RN's SAR capability, and for whatever other mistakes they've made. But don't get annoyed when we are asked to help. It might not be the best duty in the world, but it's defending our compatriots. That has to be worth it.
Blame the government all you like for not putting enough money into flood defences, cutting the size of the Forces, failing to invest in local emergency services, responding too slowly to a prewarned risk, building thousands of houses on flood plains, concentrating resources away from big cities where they're needed, plotting (as we all know) to get rid of the RAF and RN's SAR capability, and for whatever other mistakes they've made. But don't get annoyed when we are asked to help. It might not be the best duty in the world, but it's defending our compatriots. That has to be worth it.
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Just watch the news.. doing what we all are good at and capable of. Whilst it may not be 'abroad' Op tasking, there are many grateful, less upset and drier folks out there now, and the old (SK + S61) girl is doing fine 
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Anyone else see the Sky Copter Cam over the weekend?
I was transfixed watching the live feed when a RAF SAR Cab came shooting along under the Sky Copter on its way to help. The Sky Copter followed it along and then seemed to be circling to get a good shot of what was going on. Then a Police Helo came into view! It was good TV, but sadly at the expense of someone elses mis-fortune - wish all the flood victims the best of luck.
Could an operator please comment on how airspace is controlled in these situations; the patchy clouds and poor vis, with lots of aircraft about looked like a nightmare.
I was transfixed watching the live feed when a RAF SAR Cab came shooting along under the Sky Copter on its way to help. The Sky Copter followed it along and then seemed to be circling to get a good shot of what was going on. Then a Police Helo came into view! It was good TV, but sadly at the expense of someone elses mis-fortune - wish all the flood victims the best of luck.
Could an operator please comment on how airspace is controlled in these situations; the patchy clouds and poor vis, with lots of aircraft about looked like a nightmare.
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As usual, ten out of ten to the Military for coming to the aid of the civil community whilst commited heavily elsewhere...good effort!
Do you think the 'well-heeled neighbours in Ashtead, Surrey' (see neighbours at war with wounded soldiers families thread) would feel comfortable accepting Military assistance - it might be seen to be hypocritical and significantly lower the tone in their very private part of England.
Isn't it interesting to see how quick people are to accept Military aid and start waving the flag when it's their homes and way of life that is directly threatened.
Do you think the 'well-heeled neighbours in Ashtead, Surrey' (see neighbours at war with wounded soldiers families thread) would feel comfortable accepting Military assistance - it might be seen to be hypocritical and significantly lower the tone in their very private part of England.
Isn't it interesting to see how quick people are to accept Military aid and start waving the flag when it's their homes and way of life that is directly threatened.
We have an emergency of National proprtions and it is only right that the Military should be at the forefront, helping UK ciitizens in a time of need. Personally, I'd like to see them all come home from the sand. Let's have the Navy patrolling out territorial waters, the RAF doing the same in the air and let's put the Army in charge of all entry/exit points.
Have to say, GB coming across well although he is boring to listen to.
As for gorgeous Dave, in Rwanda digging latrines. Spectacular own goal and probably another big nail in his coffin. Prat.
Have to say, GB coming across well although he is boring to listen to.
As for gorgeous Dave, in Rwanda digging latrines. Spectacular own goal and probably another big nail in his coffin. Prat.
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It's a no-brainer doing what we can to help out, and any chap worth his salt would push hard to get the job done if it helps others out. Also, crews are STANDING BY for these eventualities, so, actually, it doesn't increase overstretch at all, merely helps to justify (if it were needed) the role of the National Standby Chinny, and all those Sea Kings.
Well done to those concerned, good effort!
Well done to those concerned, good effort!
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Also, crews are STANDING BY for these eventualities, so, actually, it doesn't increase overstretch at all, merely helps to justify (if it were needed) the role of the National Standby Chinny
Although there is at least one airframe and a crew ready to go at any time, that's where the ring-fencing ends and the knock-on effect in terms of airframe hours used for MACP tasking instead of Herrick work-up training (for example) takes a little while longer to rectify, and that's assuming said NS cab comes back serviceable, and that any MACP task can be met by one cab/crew at a time. One only need look at the sheer scale of recent events to wonder how long it is before Gordon Brown (texture like sun) is answering questions about why National Standby at Odiham is initally only one aircraft.
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NC
not all the crews/personnel were just siiting around waiting for these things to happen, its called the military can-do etc (or other 'official' phrases). Most of the aid was provided after 5 pm on a Friday.
There was no explicit (non-tasking) airspace co-ordination, other than the good service provided by the nearest civil ATC unit (Gloucester). The low level ops were carried out using lookout, ATC freqs, I-band transponders and good behaviour. The sky-coppers and heli-telly were nothing but helpful and professional and did not impinge and the Mil / MCA ops what so ever. Pity same cannot be said for a white R44 hand-railing the M5 at 200 ft agl in poor viz.
RS15 and a bit....
not all the crews/personnel were just siiting around waiting for these things to happen, its called the military can-do etc (or other 'official' phrases). Most of the aid was provided after 5 pm on a Friday.
There was no explicit (non-tasking) airspace co-ordination, other than the good service provided by the nearest civil ATC unit (Gloucester). The low level ops were carried out using lookout, ATC freqs, I-band transponders and good behaviour. The sky-coppers and heli-telly were nothing but helpful and professional and did not impinge and the Mil / MCA ops what so ever. Pity same cannot be said for a white R44 hand-railing the M5 at 200 ft agl in poor viz.
RS15 and a bit....
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Well done, psyan, for completely missing the whole point of my post. Perhaps I made a small error of fact, but if you disagree with the sentiment - to wit, that we should be proud of the opportunity to help our compatriots at a time of national crisis - maybe you could just say so instead of making points on words?
If you're really keen on a correction then I should have said, "help to mitigate the ongoing consequences of the current rising flood levels".
If you're really keen on a correction then I should have said, "help to mitigate the ongoing consequences of the current rising flood levels".
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I see they had to evacuate the prisoners out of a jail tonight as they may have got their feet wet and had a power cut and lost sky tv etc..., perhaps the the lags may have had better use in filling a few sandbags up, and letting the Armed Forces have a bit of R and R. 
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A big thank you to the boys and girls from Brize who came to my village on sunday and helped dish out sandbags. Again the civvies thought they were Army!. Even the padre turned up.............which was nice!
